Caregiver Connection Action Planning

Action planning to support unpaid family caregivers in Waukesha County

Full Project Name:Caregiver Connection of Waukesha County Action Planning to Support Unpaid Family CaregiversPrimary Community Organization:Eras Senior Network, Inc.Award Amount:$10,000.00

Award Date

April2017

Project Duration:7 months

Project Description Narrative:

Over six percent of individuals age 65 and older report needing help from another person with their daily needs and over 18 percent of individuals age 85 and older report needing help. Southeastern Wisconsin is home to almost a quarter of the state's population of seniors over age 65, and Waukesha County has Wisconsin's second largest senior population. As these populations continue to grow, the need for individuals to help seniors will grow and the need for consistent, system-wide supports for family caregivers of those individuals will also grow. This project aimed to develop a shared vision and measurable action plan to identify and support unpaid family caregivers of seniors and adults with disabilities in Waukesha County who are at risk of declining health outcomes due to the stresses of caring for an aged or disabled individual.

Project partners: Aging and Disability Resource Center of Waukesha County, Capri Communities LLC, Easter Seals Southeast Wisconsin, Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin, GE Healthcare, Interfaith Senior Programs, Inc., Medical College of Wisconsin, ProHealth Care

Outcomes & Lessons Learned:

Developed a multi-year action plan, including a systems map demonstrating the complexity of the health care and social services systems, and identified a shared vision to engage caregivers earlier in the trajectory of care and as equal members of the care receiver's care team
Leveraged funding to support implementation of the systems change to engage caregivers early across system partners